Unmanned systems technology offer a historical unprecedented opportunity to protect life on Earth harnessing the power of Artificial Intelligence which will exponentially augment our ability to sustainably produce food, manage emergencies, clean up pollution, as well as restore and conserve habitats
Directed projects from concept through implementation, delivering on-time, cost effective and technically compliant products for global leaders GM, Ford, Fiat Chrysler and suppliers. Gained comprehensive knowledge and experience regarding advanced technologies, customer functional objectives (Vehicle DNA), automotive vehicle systems engineering and manufacturing, as well as low-volume production programs.
Provided consulting services for buildings and transportation developing educational systems in many cleantech disciplines. Leveraged previous studies and experience to address environmental issues, climate change mitigation and adaptation. Can contribute immediately by:
- Managing project prioritization, portfolio balancing and resource allocation - Resolving process issues to meet productivity, quality and deliverability goals - Building, mentoring and leading highly skilled technical teams - Finding new applications for emerging technologies
Cultivated very strong interest in UAS, UGV and other unmanned systems into growing passion to foster vision of protecting and restoring the environment through autonomous mobile robots.
Timeline
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Project Manager, DronÃcola
Proof of Concept (PoC) in precision agriculture operation using an integration of unmanned aerial systems, advanced sensors and agricultural algorithms. Focus on crop data collection, health analysis and diagnosis.
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Systems/Design Release Engineer-HVAC/Powertrain, Delphi Automotive Systems
Designed, developed, tested and controlled major automotive OEM engineering projects in air handling, refrigerant loop and control systems as well as engine, transmission, and fuel cell cooling systems. Upon completion, took a sabbatical and studied sustainability and clean technologies.
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Total Value Manager - Climate Control Systems, Ford Motor Company
Led Ford and suppliers in the development and implementation of a material cost reduction strategy. Contributed to a quadrupling of the annual engineering savings worth about $500K. Fostered synergistic partnership among Climate Control Design Product Development, Manufacturing, Service, Purchasing, Finance, and Ford suppliers.
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Consultant and Co-Founder, Renewable Energy Education Laboratory (REELAB)
Provided consulting services for buildings and transportation developing educational systems in many cleantech disciplines including energy efficiency for homes and buildings; residential solar, small wind, and hybrid systems; smart grid applications including Plugin Electric Vehicles, Electric Vehicle Supply Equipment (EVSE) and Vehicle-to-Grid.
• Led business development of emerging clean technology training for schools and corporations. Integrated business models leveraging partnership between educators, community leaders, industry, workforce development, and government agencies.
• Participated in the Get Ready Michigan and Plug-In Ready Michigan programs intended to develop an electric vehicle charging infrastructure in South East Michigan. Co-authored workforce training curriculum and raised public awareness on EV charging infrastructure. Collaborated with Next Energy, DTE, GM and the Michigan Power Service Commission (MSPC).
• As an advisor to Thermo Source, offered commercial-grade energy audits, turnkey energy service, energy consulting, energy-efficient product sourcing, custom. Designed energy cost reduction solutions for businesses and customized financial modeling/self-funding.
• As Consultant and Detroit Green Technology Examiner for Examiner.com, provided expert local analysis of clean technologies, trends, jobs and green economy in SE Michigan. Reviewed green technology breakthroughs in alternative fuels and vehicles, smart grid, renewable energy, and energy efficiency. Offered a systemic global view identifying the often-unsuspected link between today’s challenges and opportunities.
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Design Release and Cost Reduction Engineer, Calsonic North America
Created and implemented HVAC design-related technical cost reduction and profit improvement strategy for Nissan vehicles. Achieved cost reduction through parts count reduction, assembly/test simplification, resourcing and outsourcing, and component substitution.
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Design Release Engineer, General Motors
Developed solution imperatives (cost, tooling, mass, performance, etc.) on time and within budget for air induction systems. Led the supply chain in the execution of air induction programs. Earned Employee Recognition Award for Outstanding Contributions to the Resolution of GMT 610 Air Induction Flow Uniformity.
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DNA Vehicle Integration Engineer, Ford Motor Company
Recruited to develop Ford and Lincoln DNA on advanced technologies including ambient lighting, remote entry, and Virtual Reality. Updated first level customer functional objectives (DNA). Aligned customer functional objectives with engineering requirements. Performed competitor vehicle and other marketing studies.
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Professional Advancement Sabbatical, Self
Addressed climate change mitigation and adaptation through enabling technologies: renewable energy, energy efficiency and storage, additive manufacturing, modeling of climate risk/policy, and unmanned systems. Enhanced proficiency in systemic frameworks including life-cycle thinking, industrial ecology, and circular economy. Strengthened knowledge of environmental and climate modeling tools and methods for advancing climate policy and impact/risk assessment.
Skills
afforestation
1
forestation
1
Autonomous technology
1
problem resolution
20+
Precision Agriculture
1
Life Cycle Assessment (LCA)
1
Cross Cultural Competency
16
DFMA
12
Value Analysis/Value Engineeri
5
Additive Manufacturing
3
Spanish
20+
APQP
16
Program Management
3
Artificial Intelligence (AI)
1
Lean Manufacturing
8
Sustainable Design
3
development engineering
3
systems engineering
16
Climate change IMpact analysis
1
Video and film production
1
Data Science
1
Technology Writing /Blogging
1
curriculum development
3
energy efficiency
3
Sales Engineering
3
Prototype engineering
5
manufacturing
16
Project Engineering
16
Drone Sensor Technologies
1
drone thermography
1
Autonomous Mobile Robots
1
unmanned grund systems (UGV)
1
Unmanned aerial systems (UAS)
1
QC
5
climate mitigation
2
Environmental Modeling
1
Renewable Energy
3
multi-site
8
cost control
5
Process Improvement
14
Product Development
16
Revenue Growth
10
Questions & Answers
What are your long-term goals?
Assist industry, government and citizens in the transition to a truly sustainable and resilient human infrastructure; upgrading our socio-technical world to operate like a living ecosystem; and evolving culture, economy and infrastructure with designs and strategies that advance human progress, regenerate the environment and allow society to reintegrate into our nature based life-sustaining system.
What are you working on right now?
Researching drone and mobile robot technology and their use for environmental applications.
What tools do you use?
Project management and engineering experience/skills.
Describe your greatest accomplishment.
Learning to lead successful global engineering teams.
Who are your main influences?
Elon Musk, Steve Jobs, Will McDonough, Sam Harris, Fritjoff Capra and Professor William Rees.
Why did you choose your profession?
Because I had a fervent desire to contibrute to societal progress engineering products.
Find Me On
Artificial intelligence sustainability potential
By 2030 AI could lower global emissions, create 38M jobs and raise global GDP by US $5 trillion
Drones augmenting our ability to sequester carbon
Drone tech revolutionazing reforestation
in the past two people could plant 3000  seeds a day. today they can plant 400,000 using 10 dron
Planting trees: essential to fight climate change
Land management can remove over 1/3 of the emissions needed to keep global warming below 2ºC.
Education Highlights
Drones for Agriculture: Prepare and Design Your Drone (UAV) Mission
Wageningen University & Research
Energy Innovation and Emerging Technologies Certificate
Stanford University
Foundations for Data Science Certificate
Stanford University
Drones and Autonomous Systems 2: Applications in Emergency Management
University of Maryland
Drones and Autonomous Systems I: Fundamentals
University of Maryland
Advanced UAV Photogrammetry - Part 1 - Planning and Execution
